Malibu languages
| Malibu | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Department of Magdalena, Colombia |
| Linguistic classification | (specify language family under 'fam1' or 'family')
|
| Subdivisions |
|
The Malibu languages are a poorly attested group of extinct languages once spoken along the Magdalena River in Colombia. Material exists only for two of the numerous languages mentioned in the literature: Malibú and Mocana.
Classification
The Malibu languages have previously been grouped into a single family with the Chimila language[1]. However, Chimila is now generally classified with the Chibchan languages[2]. Adelaar and Muysken note that the grouping of Chimila and the Malibu languages is "without any factual basis"[3].
Family Division
Rivet initially listed three Malibu tribes, each with its own language[4]:
- Malibú, spoken near the Magdalena River from Tamalameque to Tenerife
- Mocana, spoken in the region east of Cartagena
- Pacabuey, also known as Sompallón or Laguna Malibu, spoken near the Zapatoza lagoon
To this list, Loukotka adds six more languages (excluding Chimila)[1]:
- Papale, spoken on the Fundación River
- Coanoa or Guanoa, spoken on the Cesar River
- Zamirua, spoken on the Ariguaní River
- Cospique, spoken somewhere in the Department of Magdalena
- Mompox, spoken near the city of Santa Cruz de Mompox
- Calamari, spoken along the coast south of Cartagena to Coveñas
Vocabulary
Rivet gives a brief list of words from Malibú and Mocana, but does not distinguish the two languages[4]. A selection of these is provided below:
- tahana - manzanilla tree
- malibu - chief
- man - small boat
- ytaylaco/yteylaco/yntelas/ytaylas - devil, deity
- entaha/enbutac - cassava
References
- ^ a b Loukotka, Čestmír (1968). Classification of South American Indian Languages. Los Angeles: UCLA Latin American Center. pp. 244–5.
- ^ Gordon, Raymond G., ed. (2005), Ethnologue: Languages of the World (15th ed.), SIL International
- ^ Adelaar, Willem F. H. (2004). The Languages of the Andes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 52. ISBN 052136275X.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Rivet, Paul. "Les indiens Malibú". Journal de la Société des Américanistes de Paris. 36: 139–144.